Deep under our oceans, where the light from the sun never reaches holds many secrets. The wildlife that resides there is unique, unusual, and strangely large. A common phenomenon for these strange residents of the deep is something called deep sea gigantism. This is when animals in deeper seas are significantly larger than the animals we find closer to shore. Scientists have been perplexed as to why these animals get so large! They have come up with a variety of ways to help explain it, the main two theories are Kleiber’s and Bergman’s.

Kleiber

This rule believes that these animals grow to this large size because larger animals are simply more effective than smaller animals. When animals are at this depth, there is a significant lack of resources, and any adaptation which could give them an edge will be utilized. The metabolism of these animals are more efficient due to energy loss from heat.

Bergman

The other common theory is called the Bergman theory which takes a different approach as to why animals get so large. This theorizes that animals increase in size because of a colder climate. Smaller animals are typically found in coastal warmer regions and larger animals are typically found in colder climates.

Legends of the Deep

One of the most well-known examples of these deep-sea giants has been a legend among sailors for generations, the Kraken. The “Kraken” is actually scientifically known as the Giant Squid. The Giant Squid is the source of the Kraken myth, As their name suggests females grow around 39-43 feet long and males grow around 33 feet long. These giants live in a large range of depths from 300-1,000 meters deep. They are one of the most common examples of deep-sea gigantism.